Trucks driven by protesting motorists block Anambra roads due to government fees

In protest of the government’s levy on trailers, lorries, trucks, and other vehicles bringing goods into the state, trailer and lorry drivers blocked the Enugu-Onitsha, Onitsha-Owerri expressway, Niger Bridge Head, and all roads that lead into and out of Anambra State through Onitsha early on Friday.

For trailers loading and unloading cargo in Anambra State, Governor Charles Soludo levied a charge of N30,000.

Other vehicles subject to the levy include lorries and trucks, which are charged at different rates of N25,000 and N20,000 for vehicles with 10 and 6 tires, respectively.

According to reports, some people pay N15,000 for loading and unloading of items, with buses paying the least, between N5,000 and N3,000.

The state’s residents and drivers have strongly opposed the fees and have criticized the government as insensitive and anti-people in their criticism.

Even business owners, importers, and warehouse operators in various parts of Onitsha and its surroundings had objected to the levies and urged the state government to revoke them and remove the individuals assigned to collect them.

According to them, the collectors pose a threat to their safety and life and expose them to kidnappers.

Some Onitsha locals complained about the levies since they had to travel far distances to their markets and destinations due to the protesting trailer and truck drivers blocking the highways.

They questioned why a responsible administration would impose such a high charge at this time of year, given the high rate of inflation, the high price of fuel, the fact that many people are going hungry, and the fact that preparations for Christmas and the New Year are at their most intense.

Some asked what the government wanted the poor masses to do, describing the government as greedy, callous and irresponsible.

Odion Omoroge, a driver this morning, claimed to have driven all night from Abuja to Benin before bringing bags of garri and some yam tubers into Onitsha.

In response to the levy, he expressed amazement and said that he had never before seen one anywhere in Nigeria, calling the Soludo-led administration “the worst the people of the state will face.”

According to Omoroge, “The problem with this government, as I observe, is that it believes that money collected from the people as levy and tax and other revenues are the only money that it will use to work for the people.

“It is not talking about money from the government, and one begins to wonder if Anambra State is not getting any allocation from Federal government.

“What Anambra people and people coming into this state will be seeing in the near future about this government will be terrible and shocking to them; its obsession for levy and revenue is alarming.

“I am afraid that one day there may be blood revolt by the people, against this government because everything it is doing is at the extreme

“Touts are everywhere in Onitsha violently collecting money from people, even men and women on uniforms are violently stopping motorists on the roads accusing them of one false traffic offense or the other and violently collecting cars and vehicles keys and making them part with fines ranging from N10,000, N20,000 and N50,000.

“We know that these monies are not paid into government accounts.

“Violence in everything about collection of money is being witnessed daily in Anambra State, particularly in Onitsha.”